Canal look gate



2 Shee tsS heet 1.

J. D. WILLOUGHBY'.

CANAL LOGKGATE. f

No. 5,885. Patented Oct. 24, 184-8.

' J. 1). WILLOUGHBY. CANAL LOOK GATE.

Z-ShetB -She'et 2. I

5,885 Patented Oct. 24; 1848.

M M .kw 1 aIIIIllIllfifilillllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllll 9 Is "I- 9 s J w W W 1 wil UNITED STATES PATENT JUDSON.

J. D. WILLOUGHBY, or SUSQUEHANNA P. o., PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To LYMAN P.

METHOD or WORKING LocK-GATEsBY w HER-rowan.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. D. WILLOUGHBY, of

Susquehanna, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new' and useful Improvement in Locks and Gates of Canals, called the Self-Operating Canal- Lock Gate, which is described as follows, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same, making part of this specifica basin of the lock, composed of-wood or other tion.

Figure 1, is a top or birds eye view of the lock and gates, with the improvement at.-.

Fig. 2, is, a verticallongitudinal section of ditto, at the line 06 a" of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a vertical transverse tached to i the same.

section of ditto, at the line 0 0 of Fig.1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the plates e and 7" that serve to support the cog wheels Gsaid view being taken on the line a 2 of Fig. l.

Similar letters in the figures refer to corresponding parts.

The nature of this invention and improve.- ment, consists in arranging in a cavity or space on one ofthe sides of the basin of the canal lock, and below the upper level of the canal, four over-shot water wheels, with buckets arranged in reverse positions, to cause them to turn in different directions, when supplied with water, and secured on horizontal shafts, geared by coggedgearing to the wicket, and main swinging gates .of the lock, and causing said water wheels to turn in opposite directions by applying water to the same, through openings in a trunk or flume above them, communicating with the upper level of the canal, said openings being covered by rising and falling gates operated by cams on a horizontal shaft, turned at the proper time by the drivers of the horses drawing the boats, in order to start the-levers to effect the opening of the gates, and by the o ening and closing of the gates themselves alternately in such a manner as to open and close the wicket and main swinging gates of the canal, at the proper time, without the assistance of the usual lock tenders, or any other agency, except that afforded by the driver of the horse of the approaching boat, in pulling a rope, to open the gates, to let on the water to the buckets of the water wheels, to effect the closing of the lock gates.

A is the rectangular space or cavity formed in one of the sides of the basins of the opening and and bottom, to prevent the caving. in of'the earth surrounding the same, and communieating with. the lower level of the canal, at

its lower part, toallow the escape of the water from the same. Y

B is a horizontal trunk or flume, inthe upper part of the space or cavity, its upper surface beingon a line with the top of the suitable material, and extending from one end of the space to within a short distance of the other end of the same, andcomm unieating with the upper canal, through open, ings B near its end. r

C, C C C are overshot water wheels, arrangedv in the space or cavity immediately under the trunk or fiume, and secured on lock, lined with masonry,-on..its sides, end,

horizontal longitudinal shaIts a, turning in suitable boxes, in timbers extending across the cavity or space, near each end of the same, said shafts having cog wheels a, on their ends, nearest the ends of the lock. Two

of these water wheels are secured on each shaft, and the buckets on-the periphery of each, are arranged in reverse positions to the buckets ofthe one next to it, so as to cause the shafts to turn in both directions when required, said buckets havingsmall openings C in their bottoms to'allow the escape of thewater from .the same when standing still. 9

D, D are vertical shafts, turning in steps and suitable boxes at bottom and 'top, and having trundle heads I), b, or wheels with cogson their lower surfaces, at their lower ends, meshing in gear with the cog wheels a on the end of the water wheel shafts, and 7 having cog wheels 0, 0, 0 c at their upper ends, above and below horizontal timbers Z, supported by uprights, over the cavities or spaces to which timbers, the boxes in which they turn are secured. 1

- E, E, are horizontal bars of wood or iron having metallic racks on their edges near i each end, and extending cross-wise over the basin of the lock, the longest racks on their ends, toward the trunk or flume B, meshing in geariwith the cog wheels 0, 0 and passing between the longitudinal timbersv (Z and the ends of timbers d, secured on' saidtimbersol.

.1 F, F, are other bars of wood, or iron 'arranged below the level of those mentioned above, and made similar to the same, except in steps in the tops of the lock gates p, p,

near their outer edges, and in opemngs in metallic plates f, at their upper ends, which plates are connected at their outer ends to similar formed plates 6 arranged below the cogwheels G, G and bars It, E, F, F hav ing openings in them through which the lower, parts of the axles pass, in a similar manner to, those above the wheels and bars, said upper, and lower plates 6, 7", being connected together at their ends, as stated, by a semi-elipticalspring bar 9, curved at its ends and resting against the edges of the bars E,E, F, F, for holding them against the cog wheels G, G, G G and guiding their movements crosswise. These cog wheels, and shafts, on which they are secured, are arranged at different heights, those on the gates on the right hand side of the canal being on the same level as the upper bars E, E, and meshing in gear with the racks on their edges, and those on the left hand gates. of the lock being on the same level with the bars F, F, and meshing in gear with the-racks on their edges;

H are horizontal shafts, turning in spaces formed in the upper ends and edges of the lock gates, in suitable boxes secured to said gates, and having trundle heads h, or wheels with cogs on their faces, at one of their ends meshing in gear with the co wheels with which the bars engage, and having cog 'wheels or pinions it near their opposite ends, meshing in gear with racks on the sides of the vertical bars 71?, of the usual ris- -ing and falling wicket gates, moving in guides at the lower part of the lock gates. Swinging wicket gates i, may be used instead of the rising and falling wickets described above, in which case the horizontal shafts H, trundle heads h, and other parts necessary to give motion to the sliding wicket gates, will be dispensed with, and the vertical shafts 2", of the swinging wicket gates, connected to the cog wheels G G at the upper part of the lock gates meshing in gear with the bars, by pitman or connecting rods 7' or bars, attached to cranks 7" on the upper ends of said wicket gate shafts z", and to the upper surfaces of the cog wheels G G by pins inserted in them, in such relation to their centers, and the positions of the lock gates, and cranks j, as to cause them. to turn and open and close the wickets, at the same time as the slide wicket gates described above, as represented at the lower lock gate in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. I

I is a horizontal longitudinal shaft, turnof the flume or trunk, and terminating at their inner ends immediately below the longitudinal shaft, and cams on the sa1ne,and extending at right angles to the same, and connected at their opposite ends, by pins, to the upper ends of rising and falling oblong gates m, m m m passing through openings in the top of the flume or trunk, to the bottom of the same, and having fiat timbers m on their lower ends, covering similar formed oblong openings in the bottom of the flume or trunk, above the water wheels, and each opening being on the sides of their centers respectively to agree with the position of their buckets. 1

K is a ratchet wheel, secured on one end of the longitudinal shaft, I, on which rests the end of a pawl turning on a pin in an upright on the side of the shaft, to prevent its turning back.

L, L are iron rods or bars, attached at one end to the left hand gates of the look, by a pin or staple upon which they turn, and having slotsw, at their opposite ends, through which the wrists of the cranks k 72 on the longitudinal shaft I, opposite the gates, pass, said slotted rods or bars L, L, being guided in their movements over the wrists by shoulders on said wrists, between which they move. .1

M, M are cords orwires, attached to the cranks on the end of the longitudinal shaft, and passing over pulleys 0 whose axles turn in boxes-above the trunk or flume, and extending one up, and the other down the tow path or bank of the canal about one hundred feet above and below the lock.

The manner of operating the canal lock, and parts attached to the same, described above, is as follows: Assuming the upper wicket gates and upper gates 79, ofthe lock, to be open as represented in Fig. 1, the lower wicket, and lock gates 9 to be closed, and a boat approaching the look, from the canal below, to pass through the same, and within one hundred feet thereof. The driver of the horse drawing theboat, draws the wire or cord M, attached to the crank in, on the upper end of the horizontal shaft I, and turns said shaft sufliciently far to cause the cog or cam Z on the same, nearest the upper level of the canal, to press down the end of the lever J, under the same, and raise j the wheel C and allow the water to fall into the buckets of the same, which causes said wheel to turn in the direction indicated by the; arrow in Fig. 2, and to give motion to the vertical. shaftf D, towhich: it isgeared by the cog wheel a, and trundle head 6, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1:. This vertical shaft beinggeared to theracksin the bars E, F, by the 'cog wheels 0, 0?, causes; them to move crosswise, in different directions, indicated by arrows 4,. 5, and to turn the cog wheel's; Gr G at the upper parts of theupper lock gates p,cgeared to the racks, on. theiredges, and, to also turn the horizontal shafts I-I, turning in. boxes in the upper part of the, upper lock gates 10, to; which the said cog wheels G- G are geared, and togforce down and close the wickets of the upper gatesby the pinions if, on said shafts, meshing in gear with the racks on the; bars if, of said wicket gates, and to close the upper lock; gates, causing the slotted' rod or bar L, attached to the left gate to move over the wrist of the crank, passing through the slot in the'same, and the end of the slot, farthest from the gate, to draw said wrist, and turn the longitudinal shaft I, sufliciently far, to disengage the cog or cam I from the end of the lever J, and allow the gate m, to descend on the opening in the bottom of the trunk or flume, below the same, and stop theflow of water to the buckets of the water wheel C;and

at the same time cause the cog or cam Z on said longitudinal shaft I, to press down the end of the lever J below the same, and raise the sliding gate m from the opening in the bottom of the trunk or fiume, over the water wheel G on the shaft, near the lower part of the canal, and allow the water to fall on the buckets of the same, and turn the shaft on which it is secured, in the same direction as the shaft near the upper level of the canal, was turned by the water wheel C,which causes the vertical shaft D near the lower canal, to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig, 1, and to move the bars E F geared to the cog wheels 0 0 on its upper end by the racks on their edges in the direction indicated by the ar rows, 7 and '8, and to raise and open the wickets of the lower gates, geared to them in a similar manner to the wickets of the upper gates, and to allow the water to flow from the basin of the lock through said wickets into the lower level of the canal, until it is reduced to nearly the same level in the basin, as the water in the lower part of the canal, and the pressure from the same on the gate 20 is rendered less than the weight of the water in the buckets of the wheel O when said lower lock gates will be drawn open by the bars E F and the longitudinal shaft I, turned by the end of the slot n, nearest the lock, in the rod or bar L attached the left gate, pressing against the wrist of the crank on the lower end of said;- shaft, passing through the same, so, as to disengage. the cog or cam F, on. the shaft I'fromi the end ofthelever J and allow the gate m on its. opposite end to descend and stop oft the water from the wheel G or the: wickets: may be arranged and operated in the manner representedin Fig. lthat is: to say they may be turned on horizontal: axlesby cranks and: rods.

The boat isthen floated; into the basin: of the lock, and; the longitudinal shaft I, turned so as to cause. the cog-or cam: Z, on the same, to press against the end ofthe levers J below the same, and. raise the gate 112?, and allow the water toidescend: from the trunk orvfiume, through the openingbelow said gate,- on, to the buckets of: the water wheel-C which buckets being arranged in reverseposit-ions in relation to the wheel, to those on the water wheel C causesthe yertical shaft D and the barsE, F, andiparts geared to the wicket gates, to turn in reverse directions, and; closethe lower wickets,

and lock gates 70, to the position represented in Fig. l, in a similar manner to the closing of the wicket gates, and lock gates near the upper part of the canal, described above, and to cause the'end of the slot n, (in the rod or bar L, attached to the left gate),

nearest the gate, to draw the wrist of the crank in, and now below its center, passing through the same, and turn the longitudinal shaft I and disengage the cog orcam Z from the end ofthe lever J 3 below the same, and allow the gate m to descend, and stop off the water to the buckets of the water wheel C and atthe same time cause the cam Z on 1 i said shaft I, to depress the end of the lever J, under the same, and raise the gate m, and let the water on to the wheel C, and

cause the upper gate 71 to open to the position represented in Fig. 1, and disengage the cam Z, and stop off the water to the wheel 6'. upper part of the canal, and a the upper wickets and lock gates 70, left open for the reception of a boat from the upper level of the canal, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2. But should a boat again approach the lock from the lower level these gates must be closed and the others opened.

When it is desired to pass a boat through the lock, from the upper part of the canal to the lower part of the same, the driver draws the wire or rope M, extending up the towpath, or bank, of the canal, and attached to the crank 70 on the lower end of the longitudinal shaft I, and causes the upper and lower gates p, 79, to be opened and closed in their respective orders, in the manner above described.

What I claim a my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. Opening and closing the gates and The boat is then floated into the" wickets of canal locks by the power of the waste water applied by means of a combination of over shot wheels aflixed to horizontal shafts having the buckets of every alternate wheel arranged in opposite directions for the purpose of reverslng the motion of the wheels for opening and closing the gates said Wheels being made to act upon the gates through the agency of a combination of cog wheels, shafts, rack rods, pinions, cranks, & rods arranged and operated in the manner substantially as above set forth, or other mode substantially the same by which analogous results are produced.

.2. I also claim the combination of the revolving shaft Icams Z Z Z Z cranks is la 70 cords M M with the levers J J J J gates m m m m and fiume B for letting the water onto the wheels-the several parts being arranged and operated in the manner above described or other mode that is sub stantially the same.

3. I likewise claim the combination of the vertical shaft D and cogged wheels 0 0 and the racked bars E F, with the cogged Wheels G, G 71,, h-pinions h, h, cogged stems 7L2, k attached to the wicket gates for opening and closing the main gates and the wicket gates therein by the turning of the water wheels 0, cas aforesaid.

4. I also claim the combination of the crank rods 2", j, and connecting rods 7' with the cog wheels G Gr rack rods F E and shaft D turned by the water Wheels 0 C for opening and closing the lower gates and their wickets as described.

5. I likewise claim the combination of the rods L, L, with the gates p, p and cranks is [c for turning the cam shaft by the opening and closing of the gates to which the rods are attached as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses this th day of February 1848.

JAMES D. WILLOUGHBY. Tit-nesses:

EDMUND MAHER, A. E. H. JOHNSON. 

